Leopards Can’t Work Magic in Overtime in 58-54 Loss

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Barberton 58, Louisville 54, OT

The Leopards came close again, but Barberton worked their magic in overtime to down Louisville 58-54 Tuesday Night at Louisville High School. Cody Cheezan led the Leopards with a game-high 18 points and 11 rebounds, while Alex Schooley poured in 13 and Mike Kelly added 9.

The Magics got off to a hot start taking and 8-2 lead, but the Leopards figured out their illusion to storm back for 9 straight points of their own. During the run: Jeremy McQuilkin broke away for a basket, Jake O’brien buried a three, Schooley stole the ball and drove to the house, and Kelly banged home two more points while being fouled. DJ Phillips closed the quarter with two more baskets for Barberton who took a 12-11 lead into the second quarter.

A streaky first quarter gave way to a back-and-forth second quarter. The period featured seven lead changes and a tie score thrice. Louisville made half their shots in the period led by Kelly’s 6 points and Cheezan’s 5. Jamir House led the Magics second quarter by scoring 7 of his 11 points on the night in the period.

The first half shootout birthed a third quarter drought. Eric Hummel’s triple for Barberton early on in the period turned out to be the only field goal through the first four minutes of the second half by either team. Hummel hit another from beyond the arch not long after and led his team with 3 three-pointers on the night.

After the scoring drought, behold the power of Cheezan. The Junior Center went on tear scoring 13 of his game-high 18 points in the final twelve minutes of regulation. His hustle surge the Leopards to a 50-48 lead with under two minutes remaining in the game.

However, turnovers and failed opportunities at the line kept the Magics alive. Barberton’s Scott Sabol made the Leopards pay by draining a three-pointer from the left corner to tie the game at 51-51 with 37 seconds remaining. Louisville still had one more shot at victory after each team turned the ball over once, but Schooley’s runner from the foul line at the buzzer clanked off the back of the rim.

Both teams remained patient in overtime waiting for opportunities to strike the game-winning bucket. The Magics missed on an opportunity inside and Kelly hit 1-of-2 from the line on the other end to give Louisville a one point advantage. Soon after, Joshua Williams gave the lead back to Barberton on a jumper in the lane. Williams would end up leading Barberton with 15 points on the evening. He along with Sabol would close the game out by making four free throws in the final minutes.

Louisville went down fighting as Schooley scored a lay-in making it 55-54. Then down 57-54, the Leopards last gasp was a horrifying deja vu. Just like last year’s Greynold’s Classic at Barberton, Kelly shot a three from the left corner that fell short of its target. One more free throw sealed the deal for the undefeated Magics as the Leopards showed heart, but remain winless.

PICTURES

JV REPORT

Louisville 45, Barberton 44

Joey Duckworth made two clutch free throws with 51 seconds remaining to give Louisville a 45-44 lead. The Leopards defense held off the Magics the rest of the way to earn their first victory of the season. Ronnie Carter and Alex Hollifield lead the team with 9 points each. The Leopards hit 6 three-pointers in the contest including 2 by both Hollifield and Andy Minster.